How to Avoid Gum Disease

Fortunately, gum disease can be prevented through some easy and inexpensive efforts.

1. Get Rid of Plaque (and the Plaque-Causing Bacteria)
Your goal is to make your mouth as inhospitable as possible to the bacteria that produce plaque. To accomplish this, eliminate both the bacteria and the food it thrives on.

• Brush often. When you feed yourself, you're also feeding the natural bacteria that cause plaque. If you can, brush after every meal.
   
• Floss daily. Brushing doesn't get between the gums and teeth, so flossing is, unfortunately, a necessary evil for getting rid of the troublesome plaque. If you don't floss everyday, then the once or twice yearly visits to the dentist will be that much more painful (because she'll have to scrape the crud off).
   
• Use mouthwash. If you can't brush after every meal, rinsing with a mouthwash can help.

2. Quit Smoking
According to the NIH, smoking is a leading cause of gum disease. They should put that warning on cigarettes — forget lung cancer, bleeding gums and sensitive teeth are the real reasons to not smoke.

How Can I "Snack Smart" to Protect Myself from Tooth Decay?

Before you start munching on a snack, ask yourself what's in the food you've chosen. Is it loaded with sugar? If it is, think again. Another choicewould be better for your teeth. And keep in mind that certain kinds of sweets can do more damage than others. Gooey or chewy sweets spend more time sticking to the surface of your teeth. Because sticky snacks stay in your mouth longer than foods that you quickly chew and swallow, they give your teeth a longer sugar bath.

You should also think about when and how often you eat snacks. Do you nibble on sugary snacks many times throughout the day, or do you usually just havedessert after dinner? Damaging acids form in your mouth every time you eat a sugary snack. The acids continue to affect your teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized and can't do any more harm. So, the more times you eat sugary snacks during the day, the more often you feed bacteria the fuel they need to cause tooth decay.

If you eat sweets, it's best to eat them as dessert after a main meal instead of several times a day between meals. Whenever you eat sweets -- in anymeal or snack -- brush your teeth well with a fluoride toothpaste afterward.

When you're deciding about snacks, think about:

    the number of times a day you eat sugary snacks
    how long the sugary food stays in your mouth
    the texture of the sugary food (chewy? sticky?)

If you snack after school, before bedtime, or other times during the day, choose something without a lot of sugar or fat. There are lots of tasty, filling snacks that are less harmful to your teeth -- and the rest of your body -- than foods loaded with sugars and low in nutritional value. Snack smart!

Low-fat choices like raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or whole-grain crackers or bread are smart choices. Eating the right foods can help protect you from tooth decay and other diseases. Next time you reach for a snack, pick a food from the list inside or make up your own menu of non-sugary, low-fat snack foods from the basic food groups.

Helpful Hints for Healthy Teeth

Don't believe everything you hear about what is good or bad for your pearly whites.

Remember how your mother used to tell you almost everything you did was "bad for your teeth?" You may have forgotten some of her warnings. And some things she said might not be as bad as you think. Read on.

"The function of teeth is to chew food -- and to some extent, help you talk and form words," Richard H. Price, DMD, retired dentist and former faculty member of the Boston University School of Dentistry, tells WebMD. He is also a spokesman for the American Dental Association.

Teeth, Price says, are not to be used for:

• Pliers
• Coat hangers
• Ice crushers
• Potato chip bag openers
• Knot looseners
• Fork tine straighteners
• Chomping frozen candy bars full of caramel or frozen nuts

Whiteners: Good or Bad?

Gregory L. Paskerian, DMD, a private dentist and former assistant professor at Tufts University, tells WebMD that the new whitening rage follows a continuum of products. "The strips and other over-the-counter whiteners do not damage teeth or burn gum tissue," he says. "The trays (to hold the peroxide solution) you can buy may can contain an acidic, unbuffered solution, which could damage enamel."
The best tray-type lightening, he says, is provided by the dentist, who can control the solution and timing.
"For the fastest and safest whitening," Paskerian says, "you need to get the high-intensity light systems. This light changes the molecular structure of the enamel for a time, but it goes back to normal and at a lighter shade."
He adds, though that whitening is not really a color change, but a brightness or value change.
Price says he wishes patients would concentrate more on keeping teeth healthy. "There are bleaching groupies," he says, "People who can't get enough. You can only get teeth so white."
Price also says these solutions can sometimes cause gum sensitivity, although it is usually short-lived.

Don't Overbrush Your Teeth

Price says it's hard to go wrong on paste or brush if you look for the American Dental Association (ADA) label of approval. "This means a brush is firm enough to remove plaque but not tear up gums," he says. "Choose a brush like you would a piece of silverware -- something that feels comfortable in your hand." The designation of "Soft" is preferred by most dentists.
"Don't use a brush more than three months," Price adds. "That is the limit."
If you use an electric brush, Paskerian recommends a rotary head type that you take from tooth to tooth rather than cruising across the teeth with it.
Water picks, both dentists say, can drive bacteria back up into the gums, which can lead to it lodging in other parts of the body, such as the heart. "The picks do not remove plaque," Paskerian says.
 Price recommends them only for a gentle lavage before or after brushing. "Do not turn it on like a fire hose," he instructs.

Similarly, prebrush rinses, Price says, are no substitute for brushing. These methods should be used together.

Toothpaste is an abrasive, with some therapeutic additions, namely fluoride, which strengthens enamel and can shore up little breaches in it before cavities develop.

Brushing itself should be gentle, with the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the teeth, Paskerian says. Swish gently with an oval motion rather than raking the brush side to side across the teeth.

What about the ever-popular floss? Paskerian recommends the easy-glide type -- daily, of course. Since the dentin between teeth is not fully mineralized with hard enamel, don't saw away like mad. Paskerian is also skeptical of the new "paste" floss -- that means an abrasive is being pulled over the dentin, he says.
Dental Destroyers

Homemade drugs full of industrial chemicals, such as methamphetamine (meth), can ruin teeth in short order. There is even a term for the rottenness and missing teeth -- meth mouth. Muriatic acid, used to strip cement floors, is one ingredient. "These drugs also cause dry mouth, leaving the teeth open to plaque, Price says. "And the users tend to be tense and grind their teeth." (Not to mention not being too picky about brushing, flossing, and taking care of their teeth.)

But even some more respectable drugs, such as tetracycline and other full-spectrum antibotics, can cause discoloration in permanent teeth if kids take them before age 10 -- and now they are finding that adults can get color changes from some adult acne antibiotics, too, Price says.

"Discuss antibiotics with your dentist and doctor," he advises. "Sometimes, the dentist can prescribe a high-content fluoride rinse, which helps some."

Other drugs may cause dry mouth or bleeding gums.

Nicotine, of course, stains teeth, but there are also some chemicals in the burning paper that can cause discoloration, and the heat in a smoker's mouth can impede circulation and encourage gum disease.

Although it is not usually the first problem with bulimia that comes to mind, people who binge and vomit also eat away their teeth with acid.

Also -- lemon chewing is out! Both dentists mentioned this -- is there a lot of that going around?

Drinking bottled water exclusively can also be a problem. Check to see if it's fluoridated. If it doesn't say, call the company, Price advises.

And researchers have now found that obesity and insulin resistance may be linked to periodontal disease. So stick with your healthy eating to stay out of the dental chair.
What About Sugar?

What was Mom's biggest refrain about teeth? Sugar! "You will ruin those beautiful teeth!"

Sugar, both dentists say, is not the problem. How long the sugar stays on teeth is the problem. Given enough time, the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar and excrete damaging acid that can eat through enamel forming cavities.

So if you eat candy, brush afterward if you can.

Or chew some gum! Amazingly, even sugar gum is not a big no-no for teeth, the dentists say. It churns up lots of saliva, which carries off the sugar in short order.

Some sugarless gum, containing xylitol, is even a good decay-preventer. In fact, in California, researchers are trying to make Gummi Bears into a dental aid by making them with xylitol.

Soda, too, is not too much of a tooth problem, if you brush or drink water afterward. In fact, the diet kind contains more phosphates than can be acidic to enamel and may be a bigger threat to your choppers than regular.

Dark chocolate is not too bad for your teeth, either, Price notes.

Well, that makes it all worthwhile!

That -- and not having to crush all that ice anymore.

What causes cavity?

Your mouth is a busy place. Bacteria - tiny colonies of living organisms are constantly on the move on your teeth, gums, lips and tongue.

Having bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing. While some of the bacteria can be harmful, most are not and some are even helpful.

Certain types of bacteria, however, can attach themselves to hard surfaces like the enamel that covers your teeth. If they're not removed, they multiply and grow in number until a colony forms. More bacteria of different types attach to the colony already growing on the tooth enamel. Proteins that are present in your saliva (spit) also mix in and the bacteria colony becomes a whitish film on the tooth. This film is called plaque, and it's what causes cavities. 

Flouride: How does it work?

Fluoride is a natural element that can be found in many things, like the water we drink and the food we eat. Decades ago, scientists began to notice that children who lived in places where fluoride occurred naturally in the water, had fewer dental cavities.

Fluoride that is absorbed by your body is used by the cells that build your teeth to make stronger enamel. Topical fluoride - fluoride that is applied to the outside of the enamel - makes the crystals that form enamel more durable. Tooth enamel crystals that have fluoride are much more resistant to acid. They are less likely to breakdown and cause the tooth surface to become porous.

If your dentist recommends a fluoride treatment during your next dental visit, you'll be receiving topical protection. The fluoride your dentist puts in your mouth will help make the crystals in your tooth enamel stronger. Always use a toothpaste with fluoride. Look for the Canadian Dental Association seal of approval on the toothpaste tube in your bathroom.

Root Canal

If there's one dental treatment that's gotten a bad wrap over the years, it's root canal therapy. But the rumors about root canals are mostly pulp fiction: They're one of the most common dental treatments around, are no more uncomfortable than fillings and save millions of teeth every year. You might need root canal treatment if you feel pain when you bite down on, push on or touch a tooth, feel sensitivity to hot and cold or break a tooth. These are signs that your tooth's pulp has become infected and needs to be removed and the inside of your tooth needs to be cleaned and sealed. This is a job for an endodontist — the captain of the root canal.

Q: Do root canals hurt?
A: A root canal treatment is designed to eliminate the pain sometimes associated with root canal infection. Root canal therapy itself is not painful; dentists apply dental anesthesia to numb the area so that you should feel little to no discomfort. Advances in root canal technologies, such as laser root canals, can reduce treatment time, swelling and post-op discomfort. If you suffer from dental anxiety and the thought of a root canal makes you nervous, ask your dentist about other sedation options such as nitrous oxide or dental conscious sedation.
Q: Why do I need root canal treatment if I don't feel any pain?
A: The absence of pain is not necessarily an indication that all is well with your teeth. In fact, most teeth that need root canal therapy won't give you pain.

Your dentist or endodontist must examine the tooth pulp, which lies beneath the tooth's surface, in order to determine if root canal therapy is needed.
Q: I have a broken tooth. Does that mean I need root canal treatment?
A: Not necessarily. However, a broken tooth leaves the inner tooth vulnerable to the bacteria that can cause root canal infection. Oftentimes, a toothache or pain signals an infection; other times, you may not feel any discomfort at all. If you have a broken tooth, your best bet is to see a dentist as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis — even if there's no infection now, there could be later.
Q: Why not just get an infected tooth pulled?
A: If possible, it's better to try to keep your natural teeth. Extracting a tooth leaves a gap that can overstress or cause other teeth to shift. Plus, with root canals, you can avoid having to invest in a dental implant or bridge, both of which can be costly.

Dental Fillings

If you have a sweet tooth and don't practice good oral hygiene, prepare to hear your dentist say, "You need dental fillings." True, it's not the scarlet letter. But being told you need a tooth filling can feel like you've just been handed a badge of dishonor. Good thing is today you can get a cavity filling and keep it on the down low. With a tooth-colored composite dental filling, there's virtually no distinction between your tooth filling and real tooth. Unlike silver fillings of years past, today's fillings look natural and often take less time to complete but offer the same durability and protection.

Causes of Sore, Swollen, and Bleeding Gums: Canker Sores

Common culprits behind painful gums are canker sores, or mouth ulcers. These painful sores can develop anywhere inside the mouth, including on the gums, and they often have a whitish center with red around the edges. You may experience one canker sore at a time, making only one area on your gums sore, or you may have multiple sores at the same time throughout your mouth.

While researchers don't know exactly what causes canker sores, and they're not contagious, there may be bacterial or viral involvement. People with certain autoimmune diseases may also be more likely to suffer gum problems caused by canker sores. Canker sores often recur over time.

Suffering from dental phobia can be a distressing issue

 Suffering from dental phobia can be a common and and a very serious and distressing issue for many people, resulting in them neglecting their oral care and treatment, which can then lead to more complex problems along the way. Which in turn, bring with them needing treatments of a greater and more painful magnitude.
Whilst many people shy away from visiting the dentist altogether as a result of their fear, the oral health can start to diminish and begin to grow into much more serious and costly problems. Dental phobias should not stop people from going to the dentist, and even if you have a fear you should think of how much worse your problems could get. By engaging in a dental phobia treatment such as IV or conscious sedation dentistry, you will start to feel at complete ease during the entirety of your treatment. You will feel little to no pain and you will most certainly be happy and not feel any anxiety.

Dental fear can not only stop people from visiting the dentist, but they can also find it to be a very embarrassing phobia. The fact of the matter is that many people all around the world do or have at some point suffered from a dental phobia. It is because of this pain free and sedation dentistry has become such a major part in helping people with dental treatments.

Overcoming your fear of the dentist can seem like an impossible task, but with the new advancements in dentistry you can feel comfortable and banish that fear that you have had to deal with for many years. There are 2 main forms of sedation that can be administered by your dentist. These are conscious IV sedation or nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas). IV sedation means that the sedation will be placed directly into your vein and you will be completely asleep during the procedure. You will wake up from the procedure thinking that it has only taken a matter of minutes, whereas it has actually taken hours to complete. Laughing gas is administered through the use of placing a mask over your nose and mouth, and you inhale the sedative. Nitrous Oxide helps you to feel light headed and in a dreamy state. You will feel little to no pain when using nitrous oxide and you will be able to undergo most minor dental treatments with this sedation.

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath, or halitosis, can be a major problem, especially when you're about to snuggle with your sweetie or whisper a joke to your friend. The good news is that bad breath can often be prevented with some simple steps.
Bad breath is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grow in the mouth. When you don't brush and floss regularly, bacteria accumulate on the bits of food left in your mouth and between your teeth. The sulfur compounds released by these bacteria make your breath smell.
Certain foods, especially ones like garlic and onions that contain pungent oils, can contribute to bad breath because the oils are carried to your lungs and out through your mouth. Smoking is also a major cause of bad breath.
There are lots of myths about taking care of bad breath. Here are three things you may have heard about bad breath that are not true:
Myth #1: Mouthwash will make bad breath go away.
Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily. If you do use mouthwash, look for an antiseptic (kills the germs that cause bad breath) and plaque-reducing one with a seal from the American Dental Association (ADA). When you're deciding which dental products to toss into your shopping cart, it's always a good idea to look for those that are accepted by the ADA. Also, ask your dentist for recommendations.
Myth #2: As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn't have bad breath.
The truth is that most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just doesn't cut it. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to brush your tongue, too — bacteria love to hang out there. It's equally important to floss because brushing alone won't remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gums.
Myth #3: If you breathe into your hand, you'll know when you have bad breath.
Wrong! When you breathe, you don't use your throat the same way you do when you talk. When you talk, you tend to bring out the odors from the back of your mouth (where bad breath originates), which simply breathing doesn't do. Also, because we tend to get used to our own smells, it's hard for a person to tell if he or she has bad breath.
If you're concerned about bad breath, make sure you're taking care of your teeth and mouth properly. Some sugar-free gums and mints can temporarily mask odors, too.
If you brush and floss properly and visit your dentist for regular cleanings, but your bad breath persists, you may have a medical problem like sinusitis or gum disease. Call your doctor or dentist if you suspect a problem. They can figure out if something else is behind your bad breath and help you take care of it.